Hey, remember…

April 21, 2014

By James Burbank

Hey, remember the New Mexico Commission on the Status of Women? Of course not. Temporary Governor Martinez killed this stupid commission that served women thoughout the state with a line item veto that severed the funding. That was one of her first and signal acts as Temporary Gov. Yippee KiowKaiyay!

Recently an article in the shamelessly liberal, slanted, and desperate Mother Jones quoted our soft and caring ersatz governor saying right before her blessed election, “What the hell is that? What the hell does a commission on women’s cabinet do all day long?”

Actually, since 1974 this commission has provided advocacy and referral for women all over the state, and we certainly don’t want that now do we, especially considering the recent unpleasant swarm of news re. child abuse, domestic violence, and official murder madness? Much better to just forget the whole thing. It’s all back there with the Pharoes, I say.

Instead of all that unpleasantness, let me thank you, your excellency, Susana for your brilliance, for your specific gravity, for your profound knowledge of New Mexico government, for your deep respect for all of us, especially those of us who speak with an accent, and who are being ground up like horsemeat in your tender and merciful care machine that spits out warm and fuzzy messages for everyone here in good ol’ Nuevo NM, TV commercials about how sensitive and caring and wonderful you are, our dearest governor. This is powerful stuff, and I want to weep, but I have to hold myself together to praise my liege. We know we can trust your Temporary Governorship with your vast and weighty understanding and compassion, especially for las hermanas, especially for the poor, for the desperate, for those who don’t know where their next meal will come from, for those who don’t know where to turn.

Hey, not to change the subject, but remember Catherine Torres? Of course not? The Temporary Governor’s First Secretary of Health, who Health Dept. employees accused of creating a hostile and toxic workplace. Dept of Health specialists were crawling out the windows to get away from the Susana-inspired poisonous workplace. There was an awe-inspiring mass exodus of qualified workers from the Dept, a job vacancy rout in the DOH: the Dept. experienced twenty percent overall job loss and thirty percent job vacancies in north NM, and that’s the best thing in the world because Susana saved us taxpayers tons of bucks when all these jobs went vacant, and we shrank that nasty, dirty old giant, government. Yippee Kaiow for Susana! At long last, Catherine Torres met with Susana who told her what a great job she had done by becoming a political liability to the governor. With her box of stale crackers, her stapler, her three-hole-punch, and a picture of her Chihuahua, Desmond, Catherine Torres was escorted from her workplace by the authorities.

Hey, remember what’s happening at CYFD! There has been a massive job exodus there as well. Fancy that. We are really saving money all due to the miraculous hostile management techniques and government slashing and bleeding that Mother Susana has instilled in her agency management minions! And in state government, a mass exodus there as well. I wonder why? I hope the new and splendidly gorgeous, albeit hostile and poisonous, management techniques had something to do with it because then we will go even further in choking the life out of evil unresponsive government.

Hey, Remember New Mexico Inhuman Services Director Sidonie Squires who laughed off New Mexico kids who are hungry by saying they didn’t exist, that hunger was no problem in NM? That is the kind of management and governance that has my confidence. The kids are annoying. They make noise, they stink, and just between you and me, they should be eliminated. We are working on that.

Hey, remember the collapse of Human Services, especially mental health services in New Mexico.

Hey, remember the shadow dance Human Services audit? And the Temporary Governor’s business buddies from Arizona?

Hey, remember James Boyd?

Hey, remember the Martinez-inspired grading system to try to kick disabled aid recipients from the benefit rolls.

Hey, Remember Hanna the Hun? Hey, remember public education? Hey, remember Susana’s education business buddies, Hanna’s business buddies? Hey, remember how public education became private education run by business friends of the governor?

Hey, remember these warm and fuzzy familiar images of our once and never-more-again governor Susana.

This piece was written by:

James Burbank

James Burbank has written and published over 200 articles for regional and national publications such as Reuters International News Service, The World & I Magazine, National Catholic Reporter, Farmer’s Almanac, Los Angeles Herald Examiner, La Opinion, New Mexico Magazine, Albuquerque Journal, Albuquerque Tribune. He is author of Retirement New Mexico, the best selling book published by New Mexico Magazine Press, now in its third edition. He is also author of Vanishing Lobo: the Mexican Wolf in the Southwest, published by Johnson Books.

As a professional writing consultant, he has written and edited publications, video and radio scripts, annual reports, and investment information for a wide variety of corporate clients. A Lecturer II for the Department of English, Burbank has specialized in teaching technical writing and professional writing. His interests extend from composition and writing theory to environmental and nature writing. He has played a leadership role in developing and implementing the English Department’s teaching mentorship program.